How it all started
Our kids have some SQ frequent flyers miles expiring, so we decided to redeem free tickets to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia in June 2014. East Malaysia together with Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Brunei are on the island of Borneo. It was a place that we have not been and it seems to offer lots of interesting and diverse outdoor activities unlike the usual beach resorts like Bali and Phuket.
I had packed the following fun filled activities for the family for the week, with down time to enjoy our resort:
1. Snorkeling at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
2. Mt Kinabalu and Poring Nature walk
3. KK Town Sunday Market
4. Wildlife and Firefly Cruise
5. White Water Rafting at Kiulu River
6. Mari Mari Cultural Village
There are 2 Shangrila hotels in Kota Kinabalu, one is near town and the other nearer the forested area where the orang utan sanctuary is located. As we planned to go snorkeling and go to Mt Kinabalu, we decided to stay at the one in town, the Shangri La Tanjung Aru, to reduce unnecessary traveling. Furthermore we have seen enough orang utans in the Singapore Zoo and really not interested in the orang utan sanctuary.
Shangrila Tanjung Aru, our home for 6 nights
We had arranged airport pick up with the hotel. They were waiting for us when we came out from the security area of the airport. Shangri La Tanjung Aru was about 15 mins drive from the airport. Upon arrival at the resort, we were shown to the Kinabalu Club lounge for check in as we had booked club rooms. I had booked 2 interconnecting Kinabalu Club seaview room for our family of 5, 2 adults, 3 kids (17, 15 and 8). We decided to pay extra for club as we understand that the breakfast restaurant can be quite a circus in the morning and one needs to wait in line for a table during peak times. Waiting in line for a breakfast table is definitely not my idea of a vacation.
Our Rooms:
The view from our rooms were great. The club rooms were on level 6 and 7 and this gave obstructed view of the sea if you booked a seaview room. The room deco on the other hand was ordinary and nothing luxurious. Room and bathroom were spacious as you’d expect of a Shangrila. The Kinabalu wing is further from the main reception where most of the restaurants were. The main reception areas was at the Tanjung wing. At the Kinabalu wing, there was the gym and Shang palace the Chinese restaurant. The walk from the Kinabalu wing to the main lobby and pool was not far. About 2 mins, at most 3. We were glad we chose the Kinabalu wing because it was definitely more peaceful and pleasant. The Kinabalu wing had both club and non-club rooms. Tanjung Wing had non-club rooms only.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru in the day
Shangri La Tanjung Aru at night
Kinabalu Club Lounge:
The Kinabalu Club lounge served breakfast, a simple tea and snack at 2pm, family happy hour from 4.30-6.30 pm and adult happy hour from 6.30- 8.30pm. Non-alcoholic drinks were served throughout the day. The food they served during the happy hours were of good variety and quality and substantial enough to make a simple dinner. We did that on 2 nights when we were too lazy and tired after a day of activities to go out. We were glad we were just a few doors from the lounge. It was super convenient and not noisy at all! On the other nights, we went to the lounge for dessert and drinks after our dinner. As kids under 16 cannot go to the lounge during adult happy hours, we normally get the kids some dessert of cakes or fruits to take to the room if they so desire.
DH was keen to try breakfast at the Tatu restaurant after 2 days of breakfast at the club lounge and it was as expected quite a harried experience. We never went back there again for breakfast and had all our remaining breakfasts at the club lounge which was definitely more peaceful and pleasant albeit less variety, but that was not an issue for us.
The Restaurants:
1. Tatu Restaurant
One breakfast at Tatu restaurant was harried. We had lunch there another day. They had a noodles/ pasta lunch buffet daily. Price was reasonable but as we weren’t keen on pasta or noodles that day, we ordered ala carte. Among us we had fish and chips, gado gado (a local salad with peanut sauce) and beef rending (a spicy coconut based beef stew). Food taste and price was acceptable.
2. Coco Joes & Ice Cream Bar (by the pool)
We had some pizza at Coco Joes by the pool one afternoon. Unfortunately, it was nothing to shout about on. There was an ice cream bar by the pool which was great for an afternoon snack or swim break.
3. Shang Palace
Our favorite restaurant at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru was Shang Palace, the Chinese restaurant. Food was good and price very reasonable. We had dinner there twice and paid RM220 and RM280 for each of the dinner for 5 of us. Much better than the seafood dinner we had at Welcome Seafood, a popular seafood restaurant at Kota Kinabalu. Welcome Seafood was expensive and overrated in my opinion.
Recreation:
The pool area was fun for the kids. There are 4 slides, in addition to the usual family pool and adult pool. There was also a water war zone. You get 4 free buckets of water filled balloons for your water war per room per day. Additional buckets can be bought at RM5 per bucket if I recall correctly. It was pretty fun.
There was hardly a beach at this hotel, but we knew that when we picked this hotel. So if you want a nice beach go to the Shangri la Rasa Ria instead. As mentioned earlier,we picked Tanjung Aru as we were going for snorkeling and other activities and Tanjung Aru was more convenient. Rasa Ria was much further away.
The pool and waterplay area @ Shangri La Tanjung Aru
The Spa:
DH and I had a Chi Balance massage each at the Chi Spa. As usual the Chi Spa did not disappoint. It was consistent with the service and quality at other Chi Spas of the Shangri La group of hotels. It was absolutely relaxing!
Chi Spa @ Shangri La Tanjung Aru
All in all we had a pleasant stay at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru. Definitely a resort hotel that caters well to the family. Less of a couple retreat.
Next up: Kota Kinabalu, Borneo Adventure I (Snorkeling)